Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40742605›Full record

ArticleBiodegradation2025

Identification of novel polyethylene-degrading fungi from South African landfill soils: Arthrographis kalrae, Lecanicillium coprophilum, and Didymosphaeria variabile.

Nozipho Kheswa, Arun Gokul, Nontembeko Dube

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biodegradation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Nozipho KheswaDepartment of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Private Bag x13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, South Africa. kheswan@ufs.ac.za.
Arun GokulDepartment of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, Private Bag x13, Phuthaditjhaba, 9866, South Africa.
Nontembeko DubeDepartment of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.

Funding

National Research Foundation 129493
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The persistent inefficiency of landfill operations and plastic waste management in South Africa has intensified environmental contamination, underscoring the urgent need for innovative bioremediation strategies. This study aimed to identify and evaluate fungal isolates from landfill soils for their ability to biodegrade polyethylene (PE), thereby contributing to sustainable plastic waste management solutions. A total of eighteen fungal isolates were recovered from local landfill soils using plastic-enriched soil dilution techniques. These isolates were screened for PE biodegradation by incubating pre-weighed polyethylene strips with each fungal culture for 45 days at ambient temperature. Biodegradation efficiency was assessed through gravimetric weight loss, while structural alterations in the polymer matrix were examined using fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Several isolates demonstrated significant PE degradation, including the novel PE degraders Arthrographis kalrae SP5INT, Lecanicillium coprophilum SP7MK, and Didymosphaeria variabile SP11INT, reported here for the first time. Penicillium chrysogenum SP17MK and Engyodontium album SP3MK showed the highest degradation rates, achieving over 20% weight loss. FTIR analysis revealed the appearance of carbonyl groups (~ 1700 cm⁻

Indexed as

AscomycotaPolyethyleneSoil MicrobiologyBiodegradation, EnvironmentalPhylogenySouth AfricaSpectroscopy, Fourier Transform InfraredWaste Disposal FacilitiesPolyethyleneEnvironmental microbiologyNovel fungal speciesPlastic-degrading microorganismsPlastic pollutionPolyethylene biodegradationSolid waste management

Identifiers

PMID40742605
PMCPMC12313822

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.